Method and apparatus for treating articles with jets of fluid



July 29, 1952 J. E. SOCKE 2,605,091

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTICLES WITH JETS 0F FLUID Filed April 13, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N INVENTORV LAZJRZA BY Z6 6 @g ZZiXA A TTOE/VEYS July 29, 1952 J. E. socKE' 2,605,091

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTICLES WITH JETS OF FLUID Filed April 13, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r R i N I I J 0 0 N l 'TE '2 o N O N m w. F i M J w- 2% *3 M N T N Q /I w N N 11),! 5y w.

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BY Z a M flw July 29; 1952 J. E. SOCKE 2,605,091

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING 7 ARTICLES WITH JETS OF FLUID Filed April 13, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR BY Z W July 29, E SOCKE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTICLES WITH JETS 0F FLUID Filed April 13, 1948 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. M lv BY 4W 42M HM A TTOE/VEYS Patented July 29, 1952 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING ARTICLES WITH JETS OF FLUID John E. Socke. Pelham Manor, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 13, 1948, Serial N 0. 20.633

The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for operating upon or treating articles with a fluid and has particular reference to creating and projecting a jet or stream of fluid in a predetermined direction and along a controlled .path oftravel, through the medium of a pair of cooperating members having relativemovement. I I d An object offthe invention is the-provision of a methodgof and apparatus for treating articles whereiriiza jetof fluid may be made to move along a predetermined ,path of travel and in a predetermined direction relative. to an article of manufacture for operating 'upon the article or a restricted portion thereof.

Another object islithe provision of such a method ofand apparatus for treating articles wherein the jet ofiluid may be. used for heat treating, or cooling, or coating'an' article or a restricted portionthereof or may beused for protecting the. article against extraneous materials, and/or may belused for a variety of other purposes. ff

Another object is' the. provision of such a method of and apparatus for treating articles .3 with a jet of fluid. which .is 'simple and novel, is readily adapted-to various uses and modes of operation, and is highly variable and flexible as to timing, spacing and measuring of the jet of fluid,

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention'will be apparent as it is better understood from. the" followingdescription, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; discloses a preferred embodiment 535 thereof.

Referring to the-drawings:

Figure 1 is; a, side elevationoi. an apparatus embodying theinstant'invention and for carrying out the methodstepsof. the invention, with parts brokenaway and parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is;.a sectionalyiew taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig.1,with parts broken away; 1'

Fig. 3 is an =.enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 3--3 in Fig, 1, with parts broken aw y; .9

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the broken line 44 in Fig. 3, and turned through an angle of 90 degrees, with parts: broken away;

Fig. 5 is a modified form of apparatus embodying and for carrying'out the-method'steps of the instant invention, with parts broken away and parts shown in section; "and E 8 Claims. 01. 263-9) Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse"section-alviews taken substantially along 1 the. respective lines 6-45, 7-'! in Fig. 5, with parts broken away.

As a preferred and'exemplary embodiment-of the instant invention the drawings'tillus'trate a method of and an apparatus for'creatingand projecting a jet or stream of fluid in a predetermined direction and along a:controlledpath of travel for treating or operating upon articles through the medium of a pair'of cooperating inner and outer members comprising an inner rotatable member A (Figs. 3 and 4)"and an outer stationary r'nem'berB although this order ofarrangement maybe reversed, or both" the inner and outer members may be movable. relative to each other.

The outer stationary member '3 preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical'housing ll constituting a jet directing element and is formed with a longitudinal slot l2. This slot may be straight, or irregular in shape longitudinally.- and in width may be uniform or varied to control the direction and the. volume of "the -jet' of :fluid in accordance with the result desired. More than one slot may be provided if desired;

The inner rotatablememberA preferably comprises a hollow cylinder'M Which'isclo'sed at its ends and rotatably disposed in a bore l5 formed in the housing. This cylinder'constitutes a jet creating or forming element. The ends of the cylinder are formed with trunnions 'IB, Il'which arranged in a line around the cylinder and which communicate with the fluid'filled. interior of the cylinder. This line of apertures maybe a true helix or may be of any other desired'shape or may be continuous or interrupted. In some cases more than one line of apertures may be used and these may be parallel lines or nonparallel lines. The apertures may be of uniform diameter or may be graduated or may be in groups'of different diameters for creating jets of fluid of various volumes.

Hence as the cylinder 14' rotates within the housing ll, the apertures 22 in the cylinder are rotated past the slot 1 2: in the housing, and duringthis rotation oneor more of the apertures and the direction of projection of this jet or stream is controlled by the position and the width of the slot.

Since the line of apertures extends around the cylinder successive apertures register with the slot in advanced or retarded positions inaccordancewith v the helical shape of the line. Thus the jet of fluid which issues from the slot is substantially continuous and moves along the slot in either direction in accordance with the helical shape of the line of apertures. When the slot or the line of apertures is interrupted or broken the jet or stream of fluid 'is temporarily out off. Thus the jet or stream of fluid may be made to flow continuously or interruptedly along a predetermined longitudinal path of travel extending for the full length of the housing ,I I:

Where more than one slot 12 in the housing H is used a plurality iofijets'may be obtained and their projection may be in the same or different directions; Variations in the widths ofthe slots 12 may be used to control thevolumes' of the jets at different places along their path of travel. In case-a multiplicity of lines of apertures in the cylinder M are used or where the lines of apertures extend around the cylinder M for more than one turn, a plurality of jets of fluid may be created simultaneously in spaced relation and may be made to follow each other in succession if desired. The size of the apertures in the cylinder 14 may alsobe made to gradually increase or decrease the volume of the jets of fluid or may be made to alter this volume in any desired proportion. This novel arrangement of housing slots and cylinder apertures lends itself to a great variety and flexibility of different combinations of useful functions;

The fluid may be a liquid or a gas and where the gas is combustible it'may be ignited and projected as a flame.' In practical application the projected fluid may be utilized for treating or operating upon articles of manufacture, as bycoating heat treating, cooling and various other treatments. l

One such exemplary application of the instant invention is disclosed in Figs. '1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, which illustrate principal parts of a machine for soldering .side seams 31 of tubular sheet metal container or can bodies 32 which are open at both'ends. In this treatment of the can .bodies, a jet or stream of fluid, in this case compressed air, is projected acrQSsthespaced ends of the can bodies to prevent solder pellets or other foreign matter from enteringand contaminating the interior surfaces of 'the bodies during the usual side seam wiping operation which removes excess solder from the side seam following the soldering operation. r V

in the soldering machine (Figs. 1," 2 and 4) the IA one or more turns in a helix or an irregular form-of a helix, the apertures rotate into register with the slot in succession and hence bearing brackets 43. One of the brackets 43 is bolted to the machine frame 35 and the other is formed integrally with one of the brackets I8. The driving shaft 42 is rotated in any suitable manner. The longitudinal runs of the conveyor are supported by and are backed up by rails 44 supported on an extension 45 of one of the brackets 43. Soldering of the side seasms 3| of the can bodies 32 is effected while the bodies move along the horn 34. For this purpose the side scams 3! of the moving can bodies pass along, in contact with, a conventional solder roll 4'! (Fig. l) which is rotated in any suitable manner in a bath 48 of molten'solder. The rotating solder roll '41 carries the molten solder up onto the side seams of the passing bodies and thus seals! the seams.

Excess solder is removed from the soldered seams 3| by a rapidly rotating wiper wheel 5| (Figs. 1 and 2) which is disposedadjacent the pathof travel of the can bodies "32'and which engages thefreshly soldered seams as the bodies move past the wiper wheel. The wiper wheel is mounted on a, shaft 152 which is journaled in a bearing 53 formed on-the machine frame 35 and which is rotated continuously in any suitable manner. 1 V

In this machine. the housing ll of the fluid projecting apparatus is bolted to the machine frame 36, in a position adjacent the wiper wheel 5| and disposed parallel with and extending along the path of travel of the can bodies 32 movingalong the horn: 34. The projecting slot l2 in the housing ll is straightand of uniform width and is disposed adjacent and parallel with the path of travel of the can bodies.

The line of apertures 22 in the cylinder I l disposed within the housing ll (Fig. 4) is continuous and describes a true helix of several turns around the cylinder. This helix has a pitch equal to the spacing of the can bodies 32 moving in a procession along the horn 34. The apertures 22 preferably are of uniform diameter and are equally spaced. The cylinder I4 is can bodies 32 are advanced in spaced and timed constitutes the main frame of the machine.

initially 'set so that an aperture 22 when in register with the slot I 2 in the housing II is also in alignmentwith the space between the can bodies 32' on the horn. The cylinder l4 is continuously rotated in time with the lineal travel of the can bodies. along the horn, by a helical gear 55 whichis mounted on the outer end of the conveyor drive shaft 42 and which meshes with and drives'the gear [9 provided on the trunnion I! of the revoluble cylinder I4.

Thus, as the can bodies 32 advance along the horn 34 in the region of the wiper wheel 5|, the

jet forming cylinder M rotates in synchronism with the travel of the bodies and thus brings the apertures 22 individuallyand successively into register with the slot [2 of the housing ll. As each aperture registers with the slot and is thus uncovered, a jet-or stream of compressed air,

from the interior of the cylinder, issues from the uncovered aperture and is projected into the adjacent space between the traveling can bodies and across the open ends of the bodies. The slot l2 in the housing llis positioned to control the direction and. spread of this projected jet and to direct it across the region traversed by the side seams of the/bodies as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. v

Before one uncovered aperture leaves the slot l2 a succeeding aperture entersthe slot and thus a continuous jet of compressed air issues from and travels along the slot in time with the lineal travel of the bodies and in the same direction of movement of the bodies. There is one of these jets of air projected from the slot for each turn of the helix of apertures in the cylinder [4. Thus there is one jet for each space between the can bodies for the full extent of the housing II.

In this manner, the jets of compressed air travel with the spaces between the bodies and maintain a continuous stream of air through. these spaces without impinging upon the bodies.

These continuous streams of air block 01f the solder pelletsand other foreign matter are thus diverted or blown away from the bodies and are thus prevented from entering and contaminating the interior surfaces of the bodies.

Another exemplary application of the instant invention is disclosed in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, which illustrate principal parts of a machine for heat treating the side seams 3| of the can bodies 32. In this treatment of the can bodies a traveling flame of ignited combustible gas, such as illuminating gas is projected onto the side seams of the bodies and maintained in position as the bodies move in an orderly procession along a path of travel.

In this machine the can bodies 32 are carried along a straight line path of travel by a pair of spaced and parallel'endless chains 61 comprising a conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced and parallel permanent bar magnets 62 disposed transversely of the conveyor for carrying transversely disposed can bodies in spaced and parallel relation with their open ends facing a pair of spaced mechanisms embodying the instant invention. Each magnet carries one body with its side seam disposed at the bottom of the body.

The chains 6| operate over a pair of spaced sprockets 63 which are mounted on a drive shaft 64 which is continuously rotated in any suitable manner. The drive shaft is journaled' in bearing brackets 65 formed on the bearing brackets l8 bolted to a frame 66.which may be the main frame of a more elaborate machine. The chains extend beyond the instant machine for carrying the treated bodies to any suitable place of deposit.

This machine is equipped with two of the fluid jet projecting housings ll, each having lrevolubly disposed therein a cylinder l4. These housings are located one on each side of the machine, extending along the chain conveyor in parallelism therewith, and with their jet directing slots l2 facing the open ends of the moving can bodies. These slots are straight and parallel with the path of travel of the bodies and are of uniform width. In this machine :the fluid supply pipe 2| leads from a suitable-source of the combustible gas. Adjacent the cylinder end of this pipe, the cylinder trunnion I6 is provided with air inlet channels 68 and an adjustable regulator plate 69 so that proper mixture of the gas and air may be had to support combustion.

The lines of' apertures 22 in the cylinders I4 disposed within the housing I I are continuous carried by the conveyor. Theap ertures 22' preferably are of uniform diameterfandare equally spaced. The two cylinders 14 areinitially set so that corresponding apertures- 22 of each cylinder when in register with theslots 12in the housings H are also in alignment :with opposite ends' of the side seam of a can body (seeFig. 5). The two cylinders M are continuously rotated in opposite directions and in time with each other andwith the linealtra'vel'of the can bodies, by

- helical gears H which are mounted on theconveyor drive shaft 64 and which meshv with. and drive the gears l9 provided .on the trunnions H of the cylinders I4. 1

Thus as the can bodies 32 advance along their path of travel, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5, the two jet forming cylinders l4 rotate in synchronism with each other and with the bodies and thus rotate the ap ertures, 22, of each cylinder, individually and successively into register with the slots 12 of the housings l I. As each'pairof apertures register with the slots and are thus uncovered, a .pair of jetsor, streams of gas, from the-interiorof. the cylinders, issue from the uncovered apertures and. are immediately ignited and thus apair of' flames are projected inwardly and downwardly against the inner surface of the side seam.3|of, a can body 32. The two flames, issuing from opposite directions, cover the entire length .of' the'side seam asbest showninFigs.5and'7.

Ignition of the initial jets ofgas is; effected by a pair of pilot,'flame' s'-.-j.,l.'.['here is fone pilot flame for each cylinder 14 andlit is located at the starting end v(at the :leftfas'Jvie edKin Fig. 5) of the slot 12 inth'e housing ll. This'pilot flame burns continuously and is supported by gas issuing from apilot channel-12 formed in the housing ll. The outlet-{end of the channel terminates in the slot 12. The inlet end communicates with a tube13 which leads from any suitable source of the gas- Before one uncoveredj aperture. 22 leaves its slot l2 a succeeding aperture enters the slot and the new jet of gas thus created is ignited. from the existing flame and thus a continuous traveling flame is provided which moves alongthe slot [2 in the same direction as and in time with a moving can body. There is one of these flames projected from the slots"v I2 for. each turn of the helix of apertures in the cylinders It. Thus there is one flame from each cylinder, for each can body. In this manner-the flames travel with the can bodies and remain in projected position against the side seamsflof; the bodiesuntil the bodies travel past the ends of. the housings B thereby moving out of range of the slots l2. Thus the seams receive their heat treatment while moving alongthef lengths ofthe slots i2.

With such a'fluid jet forming or creating and jet directing or projecting apparatus it will be appreciated that many other. forms of treatment of articles may be performed. This invention is also applicable where the jet follows the, motion of the work-or follows. along a predetermined area of work which remains stationary.

For treating the interior' surfaces of tubular articles. the jetprojecting apparatus may be located within the moving; articles and may serve as a mandrel or-horn for supportingthem-during treatment.- In some casesfthe apparatus may be used for articles that remain stationary, the movand scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the apparatus and process hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: 1. In a machine for operating upon or treating articles with a fluid, the combination of feeding means for moving along a predetermined path of travel a plurality of articles arranged in spaced and timed order in a continuous procession, a housing disposed adjacent said feeding means and having an elongated slot therein extending along said path of travel of the articles, a cylinder rotatably disposed in said housing and havin plurality ofjet forming-apertures disposed in its outer surface and arranged around said cylinder in a predetermined position which corresponds with the spacing of the articles for projecting jets of fluid therefrom, said cylinder being set in said housing so that an aperture when in register with said slot is aligned with a space between a pair of adjacent articles in the procession, and actuating means operable in time with the movement of said articles for rotating said cylinder to bring said apertures successively into register with said slot in time with the movement of said articles and thereby producing a traveling jet of fluid projecting, into a space between two adjacent articles and movable along said slot in time with and in the same direction of movement of said articles for maintaining said projecting jet of fluid in the space between the moving articles for treatment of the articles.

2. In a machine for operating upon articles with a fluid, the combination of feeding means for moving along a predetermined path of travel a plurality of articles arranged in spaced and timed order in a continuous procession, a housing disposed adjacent said feeding means and having an elongated slot therein extending along said path of travel of the articles, a cylinder rotatably disposed in said housing and having a plurality of jet forming apertures disposed in its outer surface and arranged in a helical line extending around said cylinder with a pitch equal to that of the spacing of the articles for projecting jets of fluid therefrom, said cylinder being set in saidrhousing so that an aperture when in register with said slot is aligned with an article in the procession, actuating means operable in time with the movement of said articles for rotating said cylinder to bring said apertures successively into register with said slot in time with the movement of said articles and thereby produ n a travel n j t f fluid pro cti g a ainst moving article for heat treating said article.

3. A method of protecting articles from deposit of foreign material on a surfaee thereof by creating a protecting barrier between adjacent articles as they are advanced along a predetermined path of;travel, comprising the steps of providing a series 'of fiuid'projecting valvular orifices adjacent said article path of travel, successively 'movingsaicl orifices toward said path of travel,

articles with a fluid, the combination comprising feeding means for moving an article along a straight line path of travel, a housing disposed adjacent said feeding means and having a straight line slot therein extending parallel with said path of travel of said article, a hollow cylinder rotatably disposed in said housing and receivin and holding a supply of said fluid, said cylinder having a row of jet forming apertures cut through its peripheral Wall and arranged along a helical line for projecting jets'of; fluid successively through said housing slot and actuating means connected in timed relation with said feeding means for rotating said cylinder on its axis within said housing to bring said apertures successivelyinto register with the slot in said housing to open the apertures while moving preceding apertures out of register to close the apertures, thus producing a, progressively advancing succession of jets of fluid moving as a straight line along said slot and in unison with said, advancing article. 7

5. A method or treating moving articles with cooperatively moving fluid, which comprises moving an article along a predetermined pathof travel, providing a series of fluid projecting valvular orifices along said predetermined path of travel, successively moving said orifices toward and away from said path of travel, opening each of said orifices in succession as it aligns with said path, closing said orifices as they move away from said path, supplying fluid to said valvular orifices for discharge from the open orifices, and timing the opening of said orifices with the movement of said article to produce in effect a moving jet of fluid discharging from successive orifices and moving along with each article for fluid treating the article as'it passes along said path of travel.

6. A method of treating moving articles with a flame of burning fluid traveling with the articles, which comprises moving an article along a straight line path of travel, providing a series of combustible fluid projecting valvular orifices arranged in a helical line having a longitudinal axis parallel to the straight line path of travel of said article and rotatable on the axis of said helix, opening said orifices in succession as an orifice comes adjacent a moving article, confining said open orifices to a straight-line coincidin with said path of travel, projecting a combustible fluid from the open orifices against a moving article in said path, igniting said combustible fluid as each orifice is opened, and timing the opening and closing of said orifices, the ignition of said combustible fluid and the extinction of the resulting flame projected therefrom producing a straight line of flame moving from one orifice to the next and moving with the moving article for treating the article as it passes along said path of travel.

7. In a machine for operating upon or treating articles with a fluid, the combination of feeding means for moving along a predetermined path of travel a plurality of articles in a continuous procession, a housing disposed adjacent said feeding means, said housing having an elongated continuous slot therein extending along said path of travel of th articles, a hollow cylinder rotatably disposed in said housing and having a plurality of jet forming apertures disposed in its outer surface and arranged around said cylinder in a predetermined position which corresponds with predetermined treating points on said articles for projecting jets of fluid upon said treating points, said cylinder being set in said housing so that an aperture when in register with said slot is aligned with a treating point of a said article in the procession, and actuating means operable in time with the movement of said articles for rotating said cylinder to bring said apertures successively into register with said slot in time with the movement of said articles and thereby producin a traveling jet of fluid projecting upon a treating point of said article and movable along said slot in time with and in the same direction of movement of said article for treatment of the articles.

8. In a machine for operating upon articles with a fluid, the combination of feeding means for moving along a predetermined path of travel a plurality of articles arranged in spaced and timed order in a continuous procession, a housing disposed adjacent said feeding means and having an elongated continuous slot therein extending along said path of travel of the articles, a cylinder rotatably disposed in said housing and having a plurality of jet forming apertures disposed in 10 its outer surface and arranged in a helical line extending around said cylinder with a pitch equal to that of the spacing of the articles for projecting jets of fluid therefrom, said cylinder being set in said housing so that an aperture when in register with said slot is aligned with an article in the procession, and actuating means operable in time with the movement of said articles for rotating said cylinder to bring said apertures successively into register with said slot in time with the movement of said articles and thereby producing a traveling jet of fluid projecting against said article and movable along said slot in time with and in the same direction of movement of said article for maintaining said projecting jet of fluid in alignment with the moving article.

JOHN E. SOCKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES V PATENTS Number Name Date 901,757 Utard Oct. 20, 1908 1,077,985 Jackson Nov. 11, 1913 1,185,889 Eberhart June 6, 1916 1,364,121 Leyland Jan. 4, 1921 1,769,839 Jacobson July 1, 1930 2,132,303 Lathrop Oct. 4, 1938 2,194,433 Schorck Mar. 19, 1940 2,257,605 Hartley Sept. 30, 1941 2,495,055 Crowe Jan. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 368,592 France Oct. 11, 1906 

